Hello dear readers! I am happy to see you here again in another review.
Today I am going to review the KBEar KB01, a single DD IEM, that was sent to me by/purchased by my own money.
Let's jump into it!
My goal in my reviews is to make it easier for everyone to understand the terms audiophiles often use, so even if you are a beginner and this is all new for you, you can feel comfortable understanding all the terms and make a better decision for yourself.
I mainly listen to pop music and instrumental music, such as Lindsey Stirling. I am also an EDM lover, who enjoys both sides of the spectrum: bass and treble. My favorite artist, for example, is Snail's House, and I also listen to a lot of monstercat releases. Are we audio soul mates?
In the box you will find:
Well, the packaging is pretty standard for this price range, you get nice amount of ear tips, and a decent cable. I would say that it is expected to see that, and it is, but I would love to see at least a carrying case for this price.
https://avishai.squig.link/?share=KB_Ear_KB01
The sub-bass, which covers the lowest frequencies and often delivers the rumbling sensation rather than distinct sounds.
The sub-bass of the KB01 is strong, but not to much in the front. It doesn't steal the show from the midrange, but still present when needed. It has good quality too, which is surprising for this price range.
The mid-bass, where the bass becomes more distinct and perceptible, is equally well-executed. In this range, you hear kick drums and some male bass vocals more clearly.
The mid-bass of the KB01 is also punchy and impactful, but doesn't steal the show from the midrange. It is clean, and well handled, as it should be. This is very impressive for a single DD IEM.
The mids are the home to most instruments and vocals.
The midrange of the KB01 is clear, and forward. Vocals are well presented in the front and separated from the instruments, but for some it might be to forward and fatiguing. Personally, I liked it, it makes the stage sounds wide, very wide actually. I did not expect this from a budget IEM, it really doesn't sound like a budget IEM at all. Budget IEM makers, be aware of this, the bar is higher now.
The treble, which captures high-pitched sounds like cymbals, violins, and higher synthetic tones, adds brightness, sharpness, and sparkle to the music. However, excessive treble can lead to harshness or fatigue.
The treble of the KB01 is good, very good actually. It is not muted, it is present, and it is not too much. There's enough treble for the balance. Pretty safe, and good. I enjoyed it.
Imaging is the ability of the IEM to separate the left or right positions, put anything in the correct direction.
The imaging performance of the KB01 is good, but not exceptional. As expected from a budget IEM.
Usually in IEMs this term is overused, but in general the soundstage is the feel of openness and wideness of the sound. For example, if the IEM provides a congested feeling to the sound, everything sounds in the middle, this is bad soundstage.
It might surprise you, but this IEM has a better soundstage from any other IEM I heard under 100$. Yes, this is how impressive this IEM really is. If you are looking for a better soundstage than this, then you need to buy a planar IEM. This is very impressive, and unique within this price range. As said before, the bar went higher for budget IEMs.
Layering & Separation is the ability to deliver you any piece of instrument or vocal in its own place, separately. The better it gets, the more resolving the IEM will be.
The separation of this IEM is very good, I did not find any bleeding or muddying. The layering is good too, which is impressive for a budget IEM. I did not expect this to be that good. It is impressive that KBEAR could make such a great set, and for this price range, I am impressed.
Comparisons could give you a better idea of where this IEM stands within the market.
ISN NEO 1
The ISN NEO 1 is also a single DD IEM, which is similarly priced. In terms of accessories, the NEO 1 comes with better accessories (ear tips) and a carrying case. Though, its shell is not the most polished… That's asaid, in terms of sound, is is also balanced, but it has more emphasis on the bass, it is leaning towards being darker IEM than the KB01. The soundstage of the KB01 is better in my opinion. Both are great options, so it depends on what you are looking for.
TinHiFi C1
The TinHiFi C1 is another great option within the budget range. Yes, it has some cons like having a QDC connector instead of the more popular 2-pin connector, it has a plastic shell, and it has less accessories. But that's aside, the C1 will have more bass response, which will sound more "full". But aside from that, the KB01 is an upgrade from every other aspect, in my opinion at least.
You can find the KBEAR KB01 for 29.99$ at this following link(30% OFF).
Big thanks for KEEPHIFI for making this review possible, and I will see you in my next reviews!
Today I am going to review the KBEar KB01, a single DD IEM, that was sent to me by/purchased by my own money.
Let's jump into it!
Disclaimer
I received the KB Ear KB01 from KEEPHIFI in exchange for my honest review, but still – my opinions about the IEMs are personal and written based on my own experience with them, and I was not paid for this review.My goal in my reviews is to make it easier for everyone to understand the terms audiophiles often use, so even if you are a beginner and this is all new for you, you can feel comfortable understanding all the terms and make a better decision for yourself.
A little bit about myself
I thought it could make it easier for you to understand what I am listening to, and if we are audio soul mates, maybe this review will talk to you more personallyI mainly listen to pop music and instrumental music, such as Lindsey Stirling. I am also an EDM lover, who enjoys both sides of the spectrum: bass and treble. My favorite artist, for example, is Snail's House, and I also listen to a lot of monstercat releases. Are we audio soul mates?
A little bit about this IEM
This iem is a single dynamic driver iem, you usually see a single DD iem within this price range, so nothing surprising. But, this IEM actually uses a special driver type – beryllium. This is like the driver you could find in Kiwi Ears Cadenza. Usually, this driver is very expensive, so I don't know if it is 100% made of beryllium, or just a coated driver. But anyway, we will explore its sound quality in this review, and check whether it delivers what it promises to deliver, or not.What's in the box?
In the box you will find:
- 3.5mm cable
- 18x silicon ear tips
- The IEMs themselves
Packaging
Well, the packaging is pretty standard for this price range, you get nice amount of ear tips, and a decent cable. I would say that it is expected to see that, and it is, but I would love to see at least a carrying case for this price.
Build Quality & Fit and Comfort
The build quality, on the other hand, is pretty good. This IEM is shell is made of resin, and it is polished well. Its size is not huge, so I did not have any comfort issues. The nozzle is also not big, pretty standard size, so it was fine. I did not notice any driver flex, or pressure buildup while using this IEM. The nozzle and filters are made of metal, which is good for durability and for long use. The faceplate of this IEM is very pretty, shiny, and luxurious, which is impressive. So far, it is doing great in this department, probably the best you could get within this price range.In Terms of Sound
https://avishai.squig.link/?share=KB_Ear_KB01
Sub-Bass
The sub-bass, which covers the lowest frequencies and often delivers the rumbling sensation rather than distinct sounds.
The sub-bass of the KB01 is strong, but not to much in the front. It doesn't steal the show from the midrange, but still present when needed. It has good quality too, which is surprising for this price range.
Mid-Bass
The mid-bass, where the bass becomes more distinct and perceptible, is equally well-executed. In this range, you hear kick drums and some male bass vocals more clearly.
The mid-bass of the KB01 is also punchy and impactful, but doesn't steal the show from the midrange. It is clean, and well handled, as it should be. This is very impressive for a single DD IEM.
Mids
The mids are the home to most instruments and vocals.
The midrange of the KB01 is clear, and forward. Vocals are well presented in the front and separated from the instruments, but for some it might be to forward and fatiguing. Personally, I liked it, it makes the stage sounds wide, very wide actually. I did not expect this from a budget IEM, it really doesn't sound like a budget IEM at all. Budget IEM makers, be aware of this, the bar is higher now.
Treble
The treble, which captures high-pitched sounds like cymbals, violins, and higher synthetic tones, adds brightness, sharpness, and sparkle to the music. However, excessive treble can lead to harshness or fatigue.
The treble of the KB01 is good, very good actually. It is not muted, it is present, and it is not too much. There's enough treble for the balance. Pretty safe, and good. I enjoyed it.
Technical Performance
Imaging
Imaging is the ability of the IEM to separate the left or right positions, put anything in the correct direction.
The imaging performance of the KB01 is good, but not exceptional. As expected from a budget IEM.
Soundstage
Usually in IEMs this term is overused, but in general the soundstage is the feel of openness and wideness of the sound. For example, if the IEM provides a congested feeling to the sound, everything sounds in the middle, this is bad soundstage.
It might surprise you, but this IEM has a better soundstage from any other IEM I heard under 100$. Yes, this is how impressive this IEM really is. If you are looking for a better soundstage than this, then you need to buy a planar IEM. This is very impressive, and unique within this price range. As said before, the bar went higher for budget IEMs.
Layering & Separation
Layering & Separation is the ability to deliver you any piece of instrument or vocal in its own place, separately. The better it gets, the more resolving the IEM will be.
The separation of this IEM is very good, I did not find any bleeding or muddying. The layering is good too, which is impressive for a budget IEM. I did not expect this to be that good. It is impressive that KBEAR could make such a great set, and for this price range, I am impressed.
Comparisons
Comparisons could give you a better idea of where this IEM stands within the market.
ISN NEO 1
The ISN NEO 1 is also a single DD IEM, which is similarly priced. In terms of accessories, the NEO 1 comes with better accessories (ear tips) and a carrying case. Though, its shell is not the most polished… That's asaid, in terms of sound, is is also balanced, but it has more emphasis on the bass, it is leaning towards being darker IEM than the KB01. The soundstage of the KB01 is better in my opinion. Both are great options, so it depends on what you are looking for.
TinHiFi C1
The TinHiFi C1 is another great option within the budget range. Yes, it has some cons like having a QDC connector instead of the more popular 2-pin connector, it has a plastic shell, and it has less accessories. But that's aside, the C1 will have more bass response, which will sound more "full". But aside from that, the KB01 is an upgrade from every other aspect, in my opinion at least.
To Sum Up
The KB01 is a massive surprise for the budget IEM range, and yes - it is still very relevant in 2025. It has an exceptional build, awesome sound quality, and immersive sound stage. I feel like I can warmly recommend it to anyone who is just getting into this hobby, and explore how a good soundstage sounds like is, or anyone who just want to buy himself a new IEM, and he is on a budget.You can find the KBEAR KB01 for 29.99$ at this following link(30% OFF).
Big thanks for KEEPHIFI for making this review possible, and I will see you in my next reviews!